MoS Murlidhar Mohol Advocates for Pune Airport Runway Extension

Pune, 21st June 2024: The expansion of the runway at Pune Airport is being actively pursued by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Pune MP, Murlidhar Mohol. In a letter to the Defence Minister of India, Rajnath Singh, MoS Mohol has requested a joint survey of Pune Airport and has urged the Indian Air Force to examine the possibility of extending the runway. This move signals a potential acceleration in the runway expansion project.

In his letter, MP Mohol highlighted that India is currently the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world, and Pune Airport ranks as the ninth busiest in the country. Over 8 million passengers traveled through Pune Airport last year. To sustain this growth, Mohol emphasized the need to expand the airport’s runway and necessary infrastructure.

The letter also noted that the lack of direct international flight services from Pune to other countries is hindering the city’s development. Expanding the existing runway is essential to accommodate larger aircraft and enhance international flight services. The proposed runway extension, to be built on land owned by the Indian Air Force, will enable larger aircraft operations and increase international flight capacity.

The existing runway at Pune Airport is 2,535 meters long and 45 meters wide, currently accommodating aircraft up to the size of an AB-321. However, an additional 1,000 meters is needed to accommodate larger aircraft. This extension will facilitate larger aircraft landings and increase the number of international flights.

Mohol stated, “As Pune is an educational, industrial, and IT hub, this proposal will significantly boost the city’s growth and economy. Building a new airport will take time. Therefore, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has been requested to provide proper instructions to explore the possibility of extending the runway. We will also meet on Monday to discuss this further.”